Maskandi artist gets angry at his top producers

Maskandi artist gets angry at his top producers

Mthandeni Manqele who is a Maskandi star has taken aim at Dr. Sipho Sithole who is  the head of a record company and renowned music producer. This came after Sithole claimed that a new generation of maskandi musicians was destroying the genre by mimicking displays rather than performing live like the elders. As artists simply dance with their dancers (amagidangoma) on stage, maskandi events have evolved into dancing events, according to Sithole, the founder of the record label Native Beat.

Sithole who has produced music in a variety of genres for over 30 years, claims that concerts and guitars are what define maskandi.
However, a furious Mthandeni told the news that he has put a lot of effort into earning his reputation and will not allow Sithole ruin it. He said that rather than criticizing him, Sithole should quit disparaging him and offer answers. “I was unaware of Dr. Sithole, but after reading up on him, I discovered that he is a renowned producer. I anticipate that he will offer answers. “Just as a physician and renowned producer, he needs to put in a lot of effort to persuade event planners to cover the cost of both concerts and rehearsals,” he stated.

According to Mthandeni, performing live costs roughly R150 000, which event planners are unable to afford; consequently, they pay R25,000 or R35,000 alternative. “I don’t mind doing live performances, but event planners can’t afford it. “We are not destroying the genre. it is the festival planners that are doing so, and Dr. Sithole cannot hold the musicians responsible,” he stated.

Sithole told the news that Mzansi have witnessed this hallowed music of their ancestors diminish to nothing more than “amagidangoma dance festival.” Sithole has created songs for artists including Siphokazi, Amashayina Amahle, Imithente, The Soil, Zakwe, and Zuluboy. “The genre has been reduced to nothing by the lack of performances that we were accustomed to from the era of Phuzushukela, Thwalofu, Mfaz’omnyama, and other late greats.

The most disastrous thing that has occurred is that artists who perform live on instruments like the bass, piano, and concertina have vanished since they are no longer employed. “This means that the musicians who make those pieces in the studio no longer earn a living from the very same music they create,” he noted, even though the same Maskandi artists may be providing for their families, as they are required to.

According to him, his problem is that musicians like Mthandeni and Khuzani shouldn’t let music executives tell them how to showcase their craft. Since the other young, up-and-coming Maskandi musicians look up to them to take charge and combat this abuse, they need to take the initiative. “Aside from speaking out against what is happening to Maskandi, I am unable to fight this battle. However, he stated that strong Maskandi musicians must lead this battle.

Sithole went on to wonder the reason Maskandi musicians feel inferior to other artists if organizers agree to the strict demands of performers like Zonke, Thandiswa, Sjava, Judith Sephuma and Selaelo Selota.